Newsom stood tall against Trump. Does that make him presidential timber?
- Share via
- The governor wins plaudits from fellow Democrats for a nationally televised address taking on the president.
- But it’s eons until the 2028 election and far too soon to start handicapping the race.
Today we discuss presidential politics, window treatments and disasters of the natural and man-made variety.
Time for Gavin Newsom to start measuring those White House drapes.
Huh?
You know, president of the United States. I’m thinking something Earth-friendly, like recycled hemp.
Wait, what?
Did you catch the nationally televised speech the governor recently gave? The one about “democracy at a crossroads.”
I did.
It was a fine speech and the governor made some important points about President Trump’s reckless commandeering of California’s National Guard, his administration’s indiscriminate immigration raids and the wholly unnecessary dispatch of Marines to Los Angeles. (From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Venice Beach.)
Newsom was plenty justified in his anger and contempt. Trump, acting true to his flame-fanning fashion, turned what was a middling set of protests — nothing local law enforcement couldn’t handle — into yet another assault on our sorely tested Constitution.
Newsom’s speech certainly “met the moment,” to use one of his favorite phrases.
I’ll grant you that. Unlike a lot of extracurricular activities aimed at boosting his presidential prospects, Newsom was addressing a Trump-manufactured crisis unfolding right here at home. It was a moment that called for gubernatorial leadership.
Just the kind of leadership despondent Democrats need.
So it’s been said.
It’s not much of a leap to see Newsom leading the anti-Trump opposition clear to the White House!
Actually, that’s a bigger leap than it takes to clear the Grand Canyon.
President Trump’s dispatch of National Guard troops to L.A. is straight from his political playbook. It may serve his interests by distracting and deflecting but abdicates presidential responsibility.
Granted, Newsom’s speech received a lot of raves from Democrats across the country. Many are desperate for someone in a position of power to give voice to their blood-boiling, cranium-exploding rage against Trump and his many excesses. Newsom did a good job channeling those emotions and articulating the dangers of an imprudent president run amok.
But let’s not go overboard.
There is no lack of Democrats eager to take on Trump and become the face of the so-called resistance. There is no shortage of Democrats eyeing a 2028 bid for the White House. Those who run won’t be schlepping all the political baggage that Newsom has to tote.
Such as?
Rampant homelessness. An exploding budget deficit. Vast income inequality.
Plus, a lot of social policies that many Californians consider beneficent and broad-minded that, to put it mildly, others around the country consider much less so. Don’t get me wrong. I love California with all my heart and soul. But we have a lot of deep-seated problems and cultural idiosyncrasies that Newsom’s rivals — Democrat and Republican — would be only too happy to hang around his neck.
So let’s not get too caught up in the moment. The fundamentals of the 2028 presidential race haven’t changed based on a single — albeit well-received — speech. It’s still hard to see Democrats turning the party’s fate over to yet another nominee spawned in the liberal stew of San Francisco politics and campaigning with kooky California as a home address.
Stranger things have happened.
True.
That said, 2028 is a zillion political light years and countless news cycles away. First come the midterm elections in November 2026, giving voters their chance to weigh in on Trump and his actions. The verdict will go a long way toward shaping the dynamic in 2028.
Well at least Newsom has brought his A-game to social media. His trolling of Trump is something to behold!
Whatever.
Lopez: My theory for why Trump’s agents targeted Dodger Stadium and a bus stop outside Winchell’s
Has anybody checked Shohei Ohtani’s papers lately? Or those of Teoscar Hernández, Kim Hye-seong or Yoshinobu Yamamoto? And what about the doughnuts?
You’re not impressed?
I think it’s best to leave the snark to professionals.
I do, however, have some sympathy for the governor. It’s not easy dealing with someone as spiteful and amoral as the nation’s ax-grinder-in-chief.
Consider, for instance, the disaster relief money that fire-devastated Southern California is counting on. Helping the region in its time of desperate need shouldn’t be remotely political, or part of some red-vs.-blue-state feud. Historically, that sort of federal aid has never been.
But this is Trump we’re dealing with.
To his credit, Newsom tried making nice in the days and weeks following the January firestorm. He ignored the president’s provocations and held what was later described an an amicable session with Trump in the Oval Office. Their working relationship seemed to be a good one.
A tepid California poll undermines Gov. Newsom’s standing compared with other Democrats mulling over a 2028 bid. He gets mixed reviews in early voting states.
But few things last with the transactional Trump, save for his pettiness and self-absorption. Asked last week if his “recent dust-ups” with Newsom would impact the granting of wildfire relief, Trump said, “Yeah, maybe.”
He called Newsom incompetent, trotted out more gobbledygook about raking forests and then soliloquized on the nature of personal relationships. “When you don’t like somebody, don’t respect somebody, it’s harder for that person to get money if you’re on top,” Trump said.
Yeesh.
Responding in a posting on X, Newsom correctly noted, “Sucking up to the President should not be a requirement for him to do the right thing for the American people.”
Hard to argue with that.
Yet here we are.
The nation’s second-most populous city is occupied by National Guard and Marine troops. Thousands of people — displaced by disaster, their past lives gone up in smoke — are hostage to the whims of a peevish president who always puts his feelings first and cares nothing for the greater good.
The midterm elections can’t come soon enough.
Insights
L.A. Times Insights delivers AI-generated analysis on Voices content to offer all points of view. Insights does not appear on any news articles.
Viewpoint
Perspectives
The following AI-generated content is powered by Perplexity. The Los Angeles Times editorial staff does not create or edit the content.
Ideas expressed in the piece
- The article argues that while Governor Gavin Newsom’s nationally televised speech condemning President Trump’s deployment of federal troops and immigration raids was well-received and effectively articulated widespread Democratic outrage, it does not automatically qualify him as presidential material. The author contends that Newsom carries substantial political baggage, including California’s persistent homelessness crisis, budget deficits, and income inequality, which would be exploited by opponents in a national campaign[1].
- Additionally, the author emphasizes that California’s progressive policies, though popular within the state, are likely to be perceived as extreme elsewhere in the country, creating a significant liability for Newsom on the national stage. The piece also underscores that the 2028 election remains distant, with the 2026 midterms serving as a critical barometer for Trump’s political influence and the broader electoral landscape[2].
- Finally, the author expresses skepticism about Newsom’s social media tactics against Trump, describing them as unprofessional, while acknowledging the challenges of negotiating with an administration that ties disaster relief to political feuds—citing Trump’s withholding of wildfire aid as evidence[3].
Different views on the topic
- Opposing perspectives highlight Newsom’s confrontations with Trump—such as challenging federal immigration actions and condemning troop deployments—as strategic moves that bolster his national profile and position him as a unifying leader for Democrats seeking resistance against Trump’s policies[2][3]. These views argue that such moments showcase Newsom’s ability to mobilize Democratic sentiment and translate state-level leadership into broader political capital.
- Critics of the article’s skepticism counter that Trump’s divisive policies, particularly on immigration, inherently elevate Newsom’s relevance by providing a platform to demonstrate principled opposition, thereby strengthening his 2028 presidential viability. They cite Newsom’s direct engagement with Trump as evidence of his capacity to leverage federal overreach into broader support[1][3].
- Furthermore, contrasting analyses emphasize Newsom’s social media prowess in challenging Trump as an asset rather than a liability, arguing it resonates with a base eager for assertive pushback. This viewpoint dismisses concerns about California’s challenges, asserting that Newsom’s policy innovations and vocal advocacy redefine national Democratic priorities[1][2].
Get the latest from Mark Z. Barabak
Focusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. Capitol.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
